NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) – Preparation Checklist
NHS Continuing Healthcare in England is funding provided by the NHS for people aged 18+ who have significant ongoing health care needs (outside hospital). It covers all assessed health and associated care needs.
The funding is notoriously difficult to achieve, and success varies across regions of the country.
To support your application, artificial intelligence tool ChatGTP has helped us put together a checklist of documents you can collect in preparation for the assessment.
Medical and Health Records
- GP records (summary of diagnoses, prescriptions, past consultations)
- Hospital discharge summaries
- Letters from specialists (neurologist, cardiologist, mental health, etc.)
- Current medication list (including dosages and frequency)
- Copies of any recent care or risk assessments
Daily Care Needs
- A care diary for at least 1–2 weeks noting:
- Mobility issues (eg needs two carers to move, frequent falls, use of hoist)
- Personal care support (washing, dressing, toileting)
- Eating and drinking (eg choking risk, PEG feeding, needs encouragement)
- Medication support (injections, timing, specialist administration)
- Behaviour or cognition issues (eg confusion, wandering, aggression, sundowning)
- Sleep patterns (night-time waking, supervision needed overnight)
Safety and Risk Evidence
- Fall history (dates, hospital admissions, A&E visits)
- Pressure sores/wound care notes (district nurse notes if available)
- Emergency call-outs (ambulance records, GP urgent visits)
- Evidence of ‘unpredictability’ (eg sudden behaviour changes, fluctuating health)
Professional Input
- Social worker assessments (if available)
- Occupational therapy reports (re housing, equipment, adaptations)
- Physiotherapy notes
- Speech and language therapy reports (if swallowing/communication is an issue)
Financial (only if moving between NHS CHC and social care)
- Evidence of social care package (care agency notes, invoices, schedules)
- Carer statements about difficulties managing without CHC support
Tips for Families During the Process
- Keep everything dated – assessments are about ‘current needs’, so recent evidence is vital
- Don’t underplay care needs – be honest and specific, even if it feels uncomfortable
- Bring someone with you to assessments – two sets of ears are better than one
- Ask for the Decision Support Tool (DST) summary to be shared with you
- If refused, you can appeal – gather extra evidence before reapplying
Image: Getty Images on Unsplash
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